Expansible belt connecter



J. E. ALM

EXFANS IBLE BELT CONNECTER Aug. "16, 1927. 1,639,250

' Filed Dec. 22, 1926 INVENTOR.

' 1 02 zmd gww ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 15, 1927.

niarrsn stares JOSEPH E. .ALM, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

EXPANSIBLE BELT CO NNEC'IER.

Application filed'December 22, 1926. Serial No. 156,272.

This invention relates to belt connecter, such as used for wearing apparel, trouser belts and the like and especially to a connecter which is resilient or yielding in construction. I I

The great majority of wearing apparel belts such as trouser belts and the like are usually constructed of non-resilient materials such as leather, cloth, fabrics and the like. The main objection to belts of this character is lackcf resilient yielding action or free body moving when stooping, bending, 'etc., and trouser belts are for this reason often discardedfin favor of ordinary elastic suspenders. I

- This particular invention embodies a belt connector which is resilient or eirpansible in operation. The general feature being to generally improve and simplify theconstruction and operation of devices of 'this character and, particularly, to provide a belt connector which is not only artistic in appearance and substantial in construction,

but suiiiciently resistable'to permit the use of non-elastic parts without resisting or mterfering with free body movement. The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is aplan view of the belt connecter, said view being partly broken away and being shown partly in section,

Figure 2is a side elevation'which is shown as partlybroken away and partly in section, Fi ure 3' is a cross section takenon the line III-III of Figure 1, V

Figures l and 5 are perspective views of the link members forming the eXpansible belt ,connecter. c

Figure 6 is a plan view of the blank formt ing one of the link members,

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the application of the invention to an ordinary belt. Referring to the drawings, in detail, and

F particularly Figures 1, 4c, 5.and 6, it will be noted that the expansible belt connecter consists of two link members, generally indicated at A and B. These link members are substantially identical in construction and 0 the description'of one should, accordingly,

sutlice. The link members'are cut by dies or the like in a punch press of comparatively thin sheet metal, such as brass, German silver or the like and the blank form is that indicated in Figure 6, v

The link consists of a head member 2 and a cross bar 3. The head and the crossbar is connected by strips or link arms 4 and the, cross bar is provided with a second series of link arms or strips as indicated at 5. The last-named link arms are bent with relation to the cross bar as shown in Figures 4 and '5 and front and rear link arms are thus formed. The head member 2 is curled or bent upon itself as indicated at 6 (see Figure 4) to retain and embracean elongated wire loop 7. The coiled end of the head member is recessed in alignment withthe arms 5 as shown at 8 and the forward ends of the arms are offsetas at 8 to form retaining-lips 9 wh1ch are inserted through the notch portions 8 topermit the lips 9 to interlock with the head member as indicated at 10 (see Figure 2). The link thus blanked and bent consists of a plurality of front and rear link arms which forms the link shown in Figure 4. The second link indicated in Fig ure 5, as already stated, is substantially identical in construction, the only differ ence being that the arms indicated at 4 form the front armsand the arms indicated at 5* the rear arms. .Another'difierence will :be noted to this extent that the outside arms 5 are provided with'side flanges 11 which serve the function of retaining a spring, generally indicated at C (see Figure 1 The two link members are assembled in the condition shown in Figures 4: and 5. The front arms 4 of the link A will thus pass between the frontarms 4 of thejlink B and the rear arms 5 of the link B will pass ends 9 and 9 of the respective links are i passed in under the notches 8 of the respec-- tive'head members and a complete interlock is thus formed. The front and rear arms of the'respective links are interspaced with relation to each other sufficient distance to receive the springs C and the flanges 11 being bent upwardly as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5 to retain the spring against removal. With the spring thus located and the links completely assembled, it will be noted that the crossbar 3 of the B Will lie adjacent the head member 2* of the link A and-that t is the cross bar 3' of the link A will lie adjacent the head member 2. Similarly, that the cross bar 3 will lie between the arms i and 5 of the link A and that the cross bar 3 will lie between the arms a and 5 of the link B. If a pull is exerted on the loops 7 and 7 the links will separate longitudinally and the cross bars 3 anc 3 will adva ce towards each other. This places the spring C under compression and when the pull on the loops 7 and 7" is released the movement will be in a reverse direction and the links will assume the normal position shown in Figure 1. As previously stated, the link arms 4 of link A lie between the link arms l of the link- B and on a common plane and so do the link arms 5 and 5, this being permitted as the recesses 12 are formed in the respective cross bars. These recesses are of a depth equal to the thickness of the respective link arms.

The expansible belt connecters are preferably employed as shown in Figure 7, that is, an ordinary leather or fabric belt is made in three sections, a bacl: section 14- and two front sections 15 and 16. The belt connecters are interposed between the front and rear sections of the belt, as indicated at 17 and 18 and the front sections are otherwise provided with an ordinary belt buckle as indicated at 19 to permit the belt to be adjusted about the waist as desired. By interposing the belt connecters as shown at 17 and 18, complete freedom of body movement is obtained as the links form the respective belt connecters and will yield with relation to each other, as movement takes place.

Any suitable type of spring may be inter posed between the link sections, but a practical form of spring is illustrated in Figure 1; It consists of a single piece of ordinary spring steel wire, bent to form the spring loops indicated at 20, 21 and 22. lhese loops are connected by the arms 23 and terininate in end sections 2% which engage the inner surfaces of the cross bars 3 and 3. A spring of "this character exerts a fairly uniform tension and uniform resistance or pull is exerted as the link sections are extended or retracted with relation to each other.

While certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically described, I wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly that the materials and finishes of the several parts employed may be such as the manufacturer may decide ,or varying conditions or uses may demand.

Havin thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A device of the character described,

comprising first and second-named link members slidable with relation. to each other in a longitudinal direction, the first-named link member consising of a head member and a cross bar connected by a plurality of interspaced front and rear link arms, the second-named link member also consisting of a head member and a cross bar connected by a plura ity of interspaced front and rear link arms, the cross bar of the first-named link lying between the link arms of the second-named link and the cross bar of the second-named link lying between the link arms of the first-named link, and a spring member disposed between the link arms of the respective links and engaging the cross bars. i

2. A device of the character described, comprising first and second-named link members slidable with relation to each other in a longitudinal direction, the first-namedlink member consisting of a head member and a cross bar connected by a plurality of interspaced frontand rear link armsfthe second-named link member alsoconsisting of a head member and a cross bar connected y a plurality of interspaced front and rear link arms, the cross bar of the first-named link lying between the link arms of the secondnamed link and the cross bar of the second-named link lying between the link arms of the first-named link, a spring mem ber disposed between the link arms of the respective links and engaging the cross bars, a loop connected with each head member, and side flanges on one of the links retainingthe spring against removal.

JOSEPH ALM. 

